Govt not planning ethanol blending in aviation fuel; claims are false: Naidu

Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Thursday dismissed as "completely false and irresponsible" claims that the government is planning to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF), saying there is no such proposal.

His clarification came after former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged in a post on X that the Centre was planning to mix ethanol with ATF, claiming that experts believed such a move could seriously compromise flight safety.

In a post on X, Naidu said ethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) are "entirely different" and should not be confused.

"The claim that the Government plans to blend ethanol with Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) is completely false and irresponsible. There is no such proposal," the minister said.

He said SAF is an internationally certified aviation fuel recognised by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and adopted globally after undergoing rigorous testing and meeting stringent safety standards.

"Spreading misinformation on aviation safety only creates needless anxiety among air travellers. Passenger safety remains the Government's highest priority," Naidu added.

The clarification comes days after Naidu chaired a meeting to review preparations for the adoption of Sustainable Aviation Fuel and the implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which will enter its mandatory phase from January 1, 2027.

According to the civil aviation ministry, the meeting reviewed the progress of SAF production projects being undertaken by oil marketing companies and their commissioning timelines.

SAF is an alternative aviation fuel produced from non-petroleum feedstocks such as municipal solid waste, woody biomass, fats, greases and oils.

ICAO considers SAF to have the greatest potential for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from international aviation.

Naidu had said India is committed to developing a globally competitive SAF ecosystem that supports aviation growth while contributing to decarbonisation goals.

The government has approved indicative SAF blending targets of 1% by 2027, 2% by 2028 and 5% by 2030 for international flight operations under the CORSIA framework. CORSIA is the global market-based mechanism adopted by governments to help reduce aviation emissions.